CISOs Address Rising Cybersecurity Risks Amid AI Threats

South African CISOs have identified third-party risk (60%) as their top cybersecurity concern, according to the 2026 ITWeb Brainstorm CISO Survey. Other significant risks include unauthorized access/hacking (51%) and social engineering/phishing (47%). The survey revealed a shift in the employee size of organizations represented, with 35.8% from firms with over 10,000 employees. The integration of AI has exacerbated the threat landscape, prompting a need for enhanced human firewall strategies. In parallel, CISOs are now expected to communicate cybersecurity risks in business terms, emphasizing financial impact and resilience. This shift reflects a growing recognition of the importance of aligning cybersecurity with business objectives, particularly in sectors like BFSI. The discussions highlight a need for CISOs to evolve from technical roles to strategic business partners.

Key Points: • Third-party risk is the top concern for South African CISOs at 60%. • CISOs are increasingly required to communicate cybersecurity risks in business terms. • AI-driven threats are significantly increasing the complexity of cybersecurity challenges.